Daughters of Mary, Mother of Healing Love / Facebooks
The Daughters of Mary Mother of Healing Love have become known as the “running” nuns for their time spent exercising with the children they serve.
The Daughters of Mary live to serve families by caring for children and teaching them about the faith. But there was a time when it appeared their mission would change.
In 2003, their Community called them home to assist in different apostolates that needed more sisters. Many of the sisters were hesitant to leave the children they were serving, knowing that there was still work to be done.
Recognizing a calling from God, the sisters began the discernment process to start a new order that would fulfill the needs of families in their community.
“Isn’t it true that when the Church has a crisis sometimes a Religious Community is raised up to assist the Lord in the healing that needs to take place within the Mystical Body of Christ?” wrote Mother Paul Marie on the Daughters’ website.
Eventually, the sisters received permission to begin the new order and continued passionately serving children and families.
“The Daughters of Mary were really founded to work in the healing ministry, especially in the domestic church,”
Mother Maximillian of the Daughters of Mary
Through St. Charles, an educational program for emotionally and socially challenged children, the Daughters of Mary began an exercise program to help children begin healthily processing their trauma. They discovered that running was the best way to do that.
Maximillian realized it wasn’t just running that benefitted the kids, it was the Sisters running with them that made the most difference. It allowed the children one-on-one time with the Sisters and gave them the space they needed to talk through what they were feeling.
Although the Sisters no longer have a running program with the kids, it was a powerful time that helped them bond with the children they served.
Along with ministering to children, four of the Sisters are currently pilgrims on the National Eucharistic procession. “Pilgrimage is all about adjustment. It’s about learning to go without all of those little things that you take advantage of,” Maximillian said.
Looking to the future Maximillian said the Sisters hope to continue serving children while also doing more to mentor young women in their discernment process. The Daughters of Mary want to show young women that they can live a life of Christ-like joy no matter what their vocation is.
Learn more about the Daughters of Mary Mother of Healing Love here.
